Educated at Oxford, took up residence as pastor of Goadby Marwood in Leicestershire. He visited Richard Arkwright's weaving factory in 1784, and in 1785 Cartwright patented a crude version of the power loom. In 1789 he obtained patent on a wool-combing machine. Neither made him wealthy, but Parliament voted him a lump sum payment of £10,000, which he lived on through his retirement.